Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-06-10


she asked, anXiously
"Yes, thank YOU. Quite cured, Good
bye, and he was gone,
That her lovers leave-taking was a
little abrupt did strike Maude; she was,
however, far too confused by the turn
affairs had taken to attach much impor-
tanee to the first circumstance. When
she turned to her uncle he seemed
wonderfully better, and at supper he
talked quite cheerfully OF their future.
Maude passed another sleepless night.
She did not so much mind the terrible
loss she had sustained on her own ac-
count, but she was bitterly disappoint-
ed that she could not do all that she
had promised for her dear Jack. She
determined, however, to be the most
loving and economical wife possible.
At all events, her uncle would not be
able to accuse Jack of being merccnary
now, and there was much comfort in
that reelection. Perhaps, after all, they
would be able to have a proper we'd
ding, only of course, it would have TO
be very quiet one. How much better
that would be than running away and
deceiving her uncle, who had always
been so kind to her!
When she came down to breakfast
the next morning she was looking pale
and a tile worn, after her two sleep
less nights. The major, however.
seemed to have succeeded in throwing
off his grief IN quite a wonderful man
ner and was in his usual spirits.
Have YOU heard how Mr. Browne is
this morning. Maudc ventured to
ask the landlady's daughter
"Why miss, he paid up for the week
and went off by the mall-rain last
night, declaring he was sure the place
didn't suit him, "
Poor Maudo! The blow did indeed
fall on her with crushing force,
Dear me, rather sudden! We shall
miss the old gentleman-eh, Mss
Maude?' said the major, as soon as the
uncle and niece We're lett together. lie
laid a slight stress on the adjective, and
there was Il suspicion of fun in his eyes.
1t was, however, no laughing matter to
Maudc; she, poor girl. unable longer to
act her part. burst into an uncontroll-
able hit OF weeping.
Poor child, poor ohild'" said the
major, compassionately; "its sharp
lesson for you to learn. But il is bet
ter to bear little pain now than to
suffer for the remainder of your LIE.
as would most probably have been
your case if had not paid that scoun-
drcl out of his own coin.
The threatened loss of fortune was
all fabrication, Major Henderson hay-
ing gone no nearer to London than the
top room in the Honey ysuckle Cottage.
The truth was the major had discov-
cred what was going on, when he had
come upon the lovers so unexpectedly.
He then devised the scheme. which he
atterward carried out so successfully,
in order to test the sincerity OF Lieut.
Mapleson's attachment to Maude.
Major Henderson had, of course,
been obliged TO take the lanlady into
his confidence, and she. fully entering
into the spirit of the thing, had sug-
gested the majors occupying the top
room in her cottage, whence he could
watch Mr.. Brownies movements. And
so Major Henderson had merely walked
to the station, portmanteau in hand,
and, returning, had entered Honey
suckle Cottage by the back way.
Maudc' grief and humiliation were SO
real when she heard these details that
eruncle, thinking she would not care 10
stay where her story was known,
wisely suggested returning home the
following day.
I'VE can give garden-party or some
thing of that kind in honor of your
twenty-lirst birthday. 1t will be few
davs after the event, but that WONT
matter. | would give a good deal to
see that young fortune-hunter's face
when he finds out how he has been
duped There's no fear of his little.
tattlng about it, though, for his own
sake, so the story won't get all over
the town. | suppose, my dear added
Major Henderson, rather anxiduslv,
you'll never let him again find the
way to your kind little heart with his
honeyed words?"
Maude drew herself up to her full
height. "No, indeed, uncle. that never
will To use his own words, / am quite
cured"
Before the year was out another
suitor asked for Maude's hand, and on
this occasion the anxious pleadcr did
not have any cause of Major Hender-
sons obstinacy, Chambers journal.